Reinforced collapsible garage door assembly

Abstract

An overhead door reinforcement assembly has a plurality of elongated reinforcing members operatively mounted vertically on the inner surface of the door between the top edge and the bottom edge of each of the several door panels, and a plurality of cap members overlying the adjacent ends of the reinforcing members. Pivot members pivotally connect the cap members to the adjacent ends of the reinforcing members, and this permits pivoting of the panels as the door is moved between open and closed positions, but prevents pivoting of the ends of the reinforcing members in the direction of the cap members to prevent buckling of the associated door in the closed position under externally applied pressure. A disengageable lock member is engaged with the cap members and the ends of the reinforcing members to prevent pivoting of the ends of the reinforcing members away from the cap members to prevent buckling of the door panels.

Having thus described the invention, what it claimed is: 
     
       1. A reinforcement assembly for reinforcing a door of the overhead type having a plurality of horizontally extending panels pivotably connected along their top and bottom edges comprising: (a) a plurality of elongated reinforcing members dimensioned and configured to be operatively mounted vertically on the inner surface of an associated door between the top edge and the bottom edge of each of the several door panels;   (b) a plurality of cap members overlying the adjacent ends of said reinforcing members;   (c) pivot means pivotally connecting said cap members to said adjacent ends of said reinforcing members and permitting relative pivotal movement of said adjacent ends of said reinforcing members in the direction away from said cap members for pivoting of the panels of the associated door as the door is moved between open and closed positions, the configuration of said cap members and pivot means preventing pivoting of said ends of said reinforcing members in the direction of said cap members to prevent buckling of the associated door in the closed position thereof under pressures applied externally thereof; and   (d) disengageable lock means engageable with said cap members and said ends of said reinforcing members at a point spaced from said pivot means to prevent pivoting of said ends of said reinforcing members away from said cap members to prevent buckling of the panels of the associated door in the closed position thereof under positive and negative pressures applied thereto.   
     
     
       2. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 1 including top locking means having a header member attachable to the associated header of the frame of the associated door and a catch member on the upper end of the uppermost reinforcing member, said catch member being engageable with said header member in the closed position of the associated door to prevent movement of the upper end of said reinforcement assembly, said catch member being disengageable from said header member upon opening movement of the associated door. 
     
     
       3. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said header member has a hook projection and said catch member has a projecting portion in which said hook is engageable in the closed position of the associated door. 
     
     
       4. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 1 including bottom locking means, including a latch member on the lower end of the lowermost reinforcing member for engagement with the floor of the structure about the door opening when the associated door is in the closed position to prevent movement of the lower end of said reinforcement assembly, said latch member being readily disengageable upon opening movement of the associated door. 
     
     
       5. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said latch member extends beyond the lower end of the lowermost reinforcing member and wherein said bottom locking means also includes a plate having a recess therein and adapted to be secured to the floor inwardly of the associated door to provide a catch aperture for said latch member when the associated door is in a closed position. 
     
     
       6. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said reinforcing members are of generally channel-shaped configuration with the web thereof being adapted to be disposed adjacent the panels of the associated door and the side walls thereof being provided with apertures to seat said pivot means. 
     
     
       7. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cap members are of generally channel-shaped configuration and wherein the end portions of said reinforcing members are received between the side walls thereof and abut against the web thereof so as to be limited in movement in the direction of said cap members, said side walls of said cap members being provided with apertures to seat said pivot means, said web of said cap members having cutouts adjacent the ends thereof to permit limited pivotal movement of said reinforcing members during opening and closing movement of the associated door. 
     
     
       8. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said reinforcing and cap members has elongated slots therein and the other of said members has apertures therein and wherein said pivot means comprises pivot members extending through said slots and apertures. 
     
     
       9. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cap members are of generally channel-shaped configuration and wherein said reinforcing members are also of generally channel-shaped configuration with their side walls receivable between the side walls of said cap members, the webs of said reinforcing members being disposed adjacent the panels of the associated door and the webs of said cap members being disposed at the opposite end of said interfitting side walls, said webs of said cap members having cutouts in the end portions to permit limited pivotal movement of said reinforcing members during opening and closing movement of the associated door, said side walls of said reinforcing members having elongated slots adjacent one end and apertures adjacent the other end thereof and said side walls of said cap members having cooperating apertures, said pivot means comprising pivot members seated in said cooperating apertures and slots. 
     
     
       10. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 1 including a plurality of stiles dimensioned and configured to be mounted vertically on the several door panels of the associated door, said reinforcing members being mounted on said stiles. 
     
     
       11. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 1 including horizontal support members mounted on said reinforcing members. 
     
     
       12. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said disengageable lock means includes apertures in said side walls of said reinforcing members spaced from said pivot means and cooperating apertures in said sidewalls of said cap members and wherein disengageable lock members extend through said apertures. 
     
     
       13. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 12 wherein said side walls of said reinforcing members are provided with apertures spaced from the ends of said cap members to receive said disengageable lock members for storage when said lock members are not in a locking position. 
     
     
       14. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 1 including hinge members mounted on said adjacent ends of said reinforcing members to provide a pivotal connection therebetween. 
     
     
       15. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein there is included a pair of brackets secured to said adjacent ends of said reinforcing members with outwardly extending portions configured to pivot relative to each other and interfit in the vertical position of the reinforcing assembly, and a disengageable locking member engaging the interfitting portions to lock them against relative pivotal movement. 
     
     
       16. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 15 wherein said outwardly extending portions protrude through an aperture intermediate the length of said cap member, and the locking member is an elongated member passing through aligned apertures in said protruding portions to prevent pivoting of said ends of said reinforcing members away from said cap members. 
     
     
       17. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 16 wherein said elongated member and apertures are configured and dimensioned so that said elongated member bears upon said cap member. 
     
     
       18. In combination: (a) a building structure having a door opening with a frame providing a header thereabove and a floor therebelow;   (b) a door of the overhead type having a plurality of horizontally extending panels pivotably connected along their top and bottom edges;   (c) a plurality of elongated reinforcing members dimensioned and configured to be operatively mounted vertically on the inner surface of the associated door between the top edge and the bottom edge of each of said several door panels;   (d) a plurality of cap members overlying the adjacent ends of said reinforcing members;   (e) pivot means pivotally connecting said cap members to said adjacent ends of said reinforcing members and permitting relative pivotal movement of said adjacent ends of said reinforcing members in the direction away from said cap members for pivoting of said panels of said door as said door is moved between open and closed positions, the configuration of said cap members and pivot means preventing pivoting of said ends of said reinforcing members in the direction of said cap members to prevent buckling of said door in the closed position thereof under pressures applied externally thereof; and   (f) disengageable lock means engageable with said cap members and said ends of said reinforcing members at a point spaced from said pivot means to prevent pivoting of said ends of said reinforcing members away from said cap members to prevent buckling of said panels of said door in the closed position thereof under positive and negative pressures applied thereto.   
     
     
       19. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 18 including top locking means having a header member mounted to said header of said frame of said door and a catch member on the upper end of the uppermost reinforcing member, said catch member being engageable with said header member in the closed position of said door to prevent movement of the upper end of said reinforcement assembly, said catch member being disengageable from said header member upon opening movement of said door, and further including bottom locking means, including a latch member on the lower end of the lowermost reinforcing member for engagement with the floor of the structure about said door opening when said door is in the closed position to prevent movement of the lower end of said reinforcement assembly, said latch member being readily disengageable upon opening movement of said door. 
     
     
       20. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 19 wherein said header member has a hook projection and said catch member has a projecting portion in which said hook is engageable in the closed position of said door, and wherein said latch member extends beyond the lower end of the lowermost reinforcing member, said bottom locking means also including a plate having a recess therein and adapted to be secured to the floor inwardly of said door to provide a catch aperture for said latch member when said door is in a closed position. 
     
     
       21. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 18 wherein said cap members are of generally channel-shaped configuration and wherein said reinforcing members are also of generally channel-shaped configuration with their side walls receivable between the side walls of said cap members, the webs of said reinforcing members being disposed adjacent said panels of said door and the webs of said cap members being disposed at the opposite end of said interfitting side walls thereof, said webs of said cap members having cutouts in the end portions to permit limited pivotal movement of said reinforcing members during opening and closing movement of said door, said side walls of said reinforcing members having elongated slots adjacent one end and apertures adjacent the other end thereof and said side walls of said cap members having cooperating apertures, said pivot means comprising pivot members seated in said cooperating apertures and slots. 
     
     
       22. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 18 including a plurality of stiles dimensioned and configured to be mounted vertically on said several door panels of said door, said reinforcing members being mounted on said stiles. 
     
     
       23. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 18 wherein said disengageable lock means includes apertures in said side walls of said reinforcing members spaced from said pivot means and cooperating apertures in said sidewalls of said cap members and wherein disengageable lock members extend through said apertures. 
     
     
       24. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 18 including hinge members mounted on said adjacent ends of said reinforcing members to provide a pivotal connection therebetween. 
     
     
       25. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 18 wherein there is included a pair of brackets secured to said adjacent ends of said reinforcing members with outwardly extending portions configured to pivot relative to each other and interfit in the vertical position of the reinforcing assembly, and a disengageable locking member engaging the interfitting portions to lock them against relative pivotal movement. 
     
     
       26. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 25 wherein said outwardly extending portions protrude through an aperture intermediate the length of said cap member, and the locking member is an elongated member passing through aligned apertures in said protruding portions to prevent pivoting of said ends of said reinforcing members away from said cap members. 
     
     
       27. The reinforcement assembly in accordance with claim 26 wherein said elongated member and apertures are configured and dimensioned so that said elongated member bears upon said cap member.